The Long Arm

"The True Inside Story of Scotland Yard's Crime Busters!"

Jun 1 1956 Not Rated 1h 36m
Drama, Mystery

Scotland Yard detectives attempt to solve a spate of safe robberies across England beginning with clues found at the latest burglary in London. The film is notable for using a police procedural style made popular by Ealing in their 1950 film The Blue Lamp. It is known in the US as The Third Key.

Plot

Someone has broken into the safe of a London company, and yet no force or explosive was used, and the keys do not appear to have been lost. A police superintendent is investigating, assisted by a new and very keen sergeant. The superintendent's wife is worried that he may be in personal danger, and the superintendent is not always mindful of the need to reassure his wife. Then a safe in another business is also robbed without the use of force, but the robber's getaway car runs down a bystander, who later dies. There seems to be nothing to link the crimes, but then the getaway car is found abandoned in a scrap yard. A discarded newspaper in the car may be a crucial lead in solving the crime, but there isn't much to go on.

Written by

Robert Barr, Janet Green, Dorothy Christie

Directed by

Charles Frend

Production Countries

United Kingdom

Production Companies

Ealing Studios

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award1 win & 1 nomination total

Scores
# of Votes
1,467
Average Rating
7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA